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UNITED STATES PATENT Futon,

WILLIAM J. BABB, OF TROY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND WILLIAM T. MASON, OF SAME PLACE.

FIRE-KINDLER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 277,190, dated May 8, 1883. Application filed January 10, 1883. (No specimens.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that LWILLIAM JAMES BABB, of Troy, in the county of Rensselaer and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Fire-Kindler, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of my invention is to provide a new and improved fire-lighter for kindling coal fires, which consists of a mixture of charcoal, corn-cobs, and a heavy hydrocarbon oil, kerosene, pitch or tar, mixed in the following manner and proportions: One partof charcoal and two parts of corn-cobs broken into small pieces are mixed and saturated with a mixture made of four parts of petroleum or kerosene, and one part of a heavy hydrocarbon or linseed, cotton-seed, sperm, or fish oil, and one part of tar or pitch. Although no particular sizeis absolutely essential in the pieces of the charcoal and cobs, they should both be in small pieces, but not ground or powdered.

'The above-described mixture of the charcoal, corn-cobs, and the liquids is formed into packages of suitable sizes, and the packages are coated with a preparation of turpentine and oil, and then the packages are packed in suitable parcels or boxes and stamped and labeled.

By means of the above-described fire-kindler, heat is gradually obtained which is sufficient to ignite the coal. kerosene is ignited by a match and ignites the hydrocarbon oil, which in turn ignites the cob, and this the charcoal, which finally ignites the bituminous or anthracite coal.

My improved fire-kindler never fails to ignite coals, and ignites them very rapidly, is clean, cheap, and convenient, and saves a great amount of labor.

The petroleum or Iam aware-that fire-kindlers have been made heretofore which consist of lumps of charcoal saturated with some liquid which facilitates igniting the same, which lumps can then be placed in some material which can be easily ignited; but I do not claim, broadly, a firekindler made in the above-described manner.

The compound or mixture is not compressed, but put up loosely in cans or paper packages, preferably containing about two quarts. The best way of using it is to place a little coal in the bottom of the grate, put on it the paper package, light it, and cover with coal. It will speedily ignite the coal. On the other hand, if the can is used, pour the mixture over the coal, light, and cover with coal as before.

I am aware that kindlers have been heretofore made of coal or coal-dust coated with inflammable material; also, of cobs strung on a wire and coated with inflammable material; also, of coke, coal, charcoal, and sawdust saturated with rosin and turpentine; but

What I claim as new and of my invention A fire-kindler composition consisting of one part of charcoal, two parts of corn-cobs, four parts of petroleum or kerosene, one part of a heavy hydrocarbon-such as linseed, cottonseed, sperm, or fish oil, and one part of tar or pitch, the charcoal and corn-cobs being saturated with theinflammablematerial,substantially as described.

WILLIAM JAMES BABE.

Witnesses:

JAMES H. RYAN, GHAs. O. VAN KIRK. 

